Excellence and Biblical Illiteracy

In his book Preaching in an Age of Distraction (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014), J. Ellsworth Kalas addresses the issue of cultural distraction as it relates to the increasing biblical illiteracy of American culture. Although he by no means sees a singular solution to this problem, he argues that excellence in preaching in teaching offer one significant antidote. For, he asserts, something in the human soul is attracted to excellence no matter what its source or even its content.

People can sense when something has been constructed thoughtfully, thoroughly, and honestly, and thus, he writes, “In a time of increasing biblical illiteracy, the pastor must lay new claim on the Scriptures and preach them with more depth, conviction, and excellence than ever before…[The] Christian preacher and teacher has an obligation to both God and culture to be counterintuitive and to push the cause of excellence in the morass of cultural deterioration” (90-91).

Although I have much to say in response to this, I would rather leave you to reflect on his words and simply say “Amen!” Preachers and teachers, let us love the Lord and others enough to give our all, our very best, to the practice of interpreting, receiving, and teaching the sacred Word of God. And as we do, may the Lord edify the saved and save the lost by the power of his Spirit and his speech.

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